Clothing labels: Accurate or not?

With the European Textile Regulation(1007/2011) entering into force in 2011, requirements on labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products were harmonized throughout the EuropeanUnion. However, in 2018, doubts were raised on the accuracy of these composition claims on labels on the Dutch market. With the introduction of the Fibersort, a technology able to categorise textiles based on their composition, deviations between the fibre categorisations given by the Fibersort and the composition claims on labels became apparent to sorters. The Ministry of Infrastructure & Waterways has commissioned Circle Economy to investigate the assumption that labels on garments are inaccurate, to map the consequences of inaccurate composition claims on labels, and to identify the measures required to tackle the challenge of misleading labels. This report summarises the outcomes and conclusions of this research.